Business Directories

Bahrain alert over fake herbal medicines

Manama, March 7, 2013

Bahrain’s Health Ministry is urging people to stay away from products that do not contain detailed information in Arabic and English following complaints that several consumers fell sick after buying items from legitimate stores.

"There are now so many herbal shops across the kingdom selling different types of products," Afeefa Bader, the ministry's acting head of environmental health, was quoted as saying in a report in the Gulf Daily News.

"People should read the instructions in Arabic and English, which states warnings, country of origin or where it was manufactured.

"They should not buy any herbal product or package if it does not contain these instructions."

Bader, who is also the ministry's consumer product safety group head, said one investigation found a diabetic patient had consumed a herbal product that had been mixed with medicines.

"In another case, we found steroids in a cream used by a patient to treat skin sclerosis," she said.

Bader accused some shops of making false promises to treat diseases in search of profits.

She also warned consumers against buying unlicensed products online.

"Some of these products are poor in quality, unlicensed and contain banned medical drugs or banned toxic herbs," she said.

Bader said people should consult a doctor before consuming any herbal products and ensure they keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

"Upon receiving complaints our inspectors first verbally inform the shop owners and if the violations are repeated then the Industry and Commerce Ministry is notified to step in and take further action," she said. – TradeArabia News Service